This, more than likely will have virtually no bearing on anything said, concluded, or even in the slightest, discussed at a level of government level capable of reversing the decision to scrap these aircraft. As much as I would like it to be true, HMG has a teeny tiny reputation for never going back on its key decisions, unless of course a war breaks out, or it suddenly becomes popular.

And with the current uprising in Syria aswell, we may have to act there as well. Hopefully the government will be strong enough to admit their error. Great opportunity to recommission the Ark Royal as well

And with the current uprising in Syria as well, we may have to act there as well. Hopefully the government will be strong enough to admit their error. Great opportunity to recommission the Ark Royal as well :iconbiggrin: :iconbiggrin:

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Should it come to pass, the obvious base for any air operations over Syria would be RAF Akrotiri. However, as is the case with Libya, this would probably be against the express wishes of the Cypriot government:

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AFP)--Cyprus President Demetris Christofias said Sunday that he opposes an RAF air base on the island being part of the U.N.-backed intervention in Libya but the U.K. denied it will launch strikes from there.

"Unfortunately the bases are sovereign and can be used with just a simple warning [to the Cyprus government] on behalf of Britain," Christofias told reporters. "We gave a message to Britain that we do not wish the bases to be used, because we are against it." (more)

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The Maltese government has adopted the same stance regarding air operations against Libya.

Malta’s foreign minister Tonio Borg has issued a stark warning to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) stressing that if they intend to engage in any military action against Libya using Malta as a base, they should “go and knock on other people’s doors.”

Ironically, this comes in the wake of reports that NATO aircraft have been in close communication with Maltese authorities, and the day after the US ambassador to NATO confirmed Malta’s role as base for ‘the larger international co-ordinating process’ for operations which also involve NATO. Speaking to Malta Today from Rome after meetings with his Italian counterpart Franco Frattini, Malta’s foreign minister said that he made it clear to all NATO member states, that Malta will not allow its neutrality to be breached and its Constitution broken.

“Malta’s role in the developing crisis in Libya is purely humanitarian and nothing more, however we will never accept any circumstance where Maltese territory be used for any military action against Libya,” Borg said...

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Italy (where RAF aircraft are currently based) was on the point of kicking out NATO aircraft too. Wherever you need to operate, there will always be the risk of HNS (Host Nation Support) being refused for your land-based aircraft. With an aircraft carrier, of course, this isn't an issue.